IAF Illyushin-76 carrying relief supplies to Phillipines

IAF CARRIES RELIEF MATERIAL TO PHILIPPINES
New Delhi : February 22, 2006
An Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft carrying 34 tonnes of relief material, left for Philippines this morning for the people affected due to a massive landslide that occurred on Friday, 17 Feb 06. The landslide had occurred in Leyte Province of Philippines where over 1400 persons are feared buried and several hundreds injured and affected.
The payload of relief material comprised tents, medicines, blankets, pre-cooked food etc. The IAF IL-76 departed this morning at 0815 hrs for Manila in Philippines and would be routing via Bangkok. The IL-76 is expected to return tomorrow after delivering the relief material.
The Mission has been undertaken by IAF under the auspices of Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs. The Nagpur based 44 Squadron of IAF IL-76 was tasked to undertake this commitment. Gp Capt Rajat Sharma, the Commanding Officer of 44 Sqn is the Captain of the mission.
It may be recalled that the Indian Air Force, last year i.e. in 2005 carried relief material to United States of America in the aftermath of Hurricane ‘Katrina’ and to Pakistan after the disastrous earthquake of 08 Oct.